DiCenso Reacts to Dziekan's Mayoral Announcement

(Catherine Avalone photo)

DERBY- While Rich Dziekan says he has a plan to lower taxes in Derby if he gets elected, his plan sounds eerily similar to the plan of his former boss in Ansonia, Mayor Dave Cassetti, whose plan will likely cost Ansonia’s homeowners thousands of dollars a year in tax increases very soon.  Yes, thousands of dollars in new taxes every year.

As a part of Dave Cassetti’s staff, if Rich Dziekan looks to have Derby mirror Ansonia’s fiscal policy regarding taxes, it could become a disaster for Derby homeowners.  Derby’s taxpayers are already paying too much.  Our homeowners cannot sustain drastic yearly increases to the mill rate like Ansonia’s homeowners will soon face.

Like Dave Cassetti, if Rich Dziekan intends to borrow money from the city’s fund balance -- or rainy day fund as many communities refer to it -- to run Derby’s operating budget without a plan to replace those funds once they are depleted, our valued homeowners will soon be in serious financial distress.

Once the rainy day fund runs dry, Rich Dziekan’s plan will force Derby’s homeowners to pay thousands of dollars each year above and beyond what they currently pay.

Rather than rob Peter to pay Paul, my plan of not increasing the burden on Derby’s homeowners is sustainable, not smoke and mirrors simply to get votes.  My plan is to build Derby’s tax base through continuous and steady economic development by attracting new businesses to fill our existing empty storefronts while constructing new facilities for even more economic growth for Derby.

My plan is to bring new businesses into our city while working to keep our existing business right where they are.

We can do better.  We will do better.

 

(This is a press release from DiCenso)

 



Griffin Hospital President to Attend Trump's Address to Congress

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy on Monday announced that President & CEO of Derby’s Griffin Hospital Patrick A. Charmel will join him in attending President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.

Charmel is recognized as a leader of the hospital industry’s effort to achieve healthcare’s triple aim of improving the patient experience, improving the health of populations and reducing the cost of care. He has been a strong advocate of delivering system transformation to produce higher value health care, which, along with health insurance coverage expansion, is a foundational goal of the Affordable Care Act (the ACA).
         
President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are threatening to repeal the ACA, which has provided health insurance coverage and new benefits to millions of Americans, and reduced federal health spending.

“Patrick has spent decades working to improve patient care and services for people in Connecticut, and I’m so glad he’ll be joining me tomorrow night,” said Murphy. “When I talk with people across our state, I can hear the fear in their voices that the insurance they depend on will be stripped away from them. That’s why I’m fighting misguided efforts to repeal the health care millions rely on. I’ll keep working with Connecticut leaders like Patrick to continue to advance patient care and make the practical changes we need to improve care and control costs.”

“The ACA has provided approximately 300,000 additional Connecticut residents with access to medical care and preventive services, with the state’s percentage of uninsured adults dropping from 9.4 to 6 percent, one of the lowest in the nation,” said Patrick Charmel, President and CEO of Griffin Hospital in Derby.

“To increase the positive impact of coverage expansion and to ensure that reforms implemented are sustainable, the state of Connecticut and its healthcare providers have embraced delivery system innovation and transformation with the goal of improving healthcare quality, equity and efficiency,” Charmel went on. “Healthcare providers have developed new capabilities and made significant infrastructure investments and commitments to facilitate the transition to value-based care, which will help achieve the President’s stated goals of providing better coverage at a lower cost for all Americans.  We hope any modifications or replacements to the ACA would continue to support our effort to ensure healthcare access and quality for all citizens.”

Griffin Hospital is a 160-bed acute care community hospital serving more than 130,000 residents of the Lower Naugatuck Valley Region. Griffin Hospital has won numerous awards for their industry-leading patient satisfaction ratings, patient safety, and quality performance, and is the only Connecticut hospital to be named both a Joint Commission top quality performer and receive The Leapfrog Group’s “A” grade for patient safety five times in a row.

(This is a press release from U.S. Sen. Murphy's office)

Valley GOP to hold dinner meeting in Derby

DERBY - The Valley GOP will hold its third annual dinner from 6-8:30 p.m. April 12 at La Sala at Sons of Italy, 73 High St. There will be a buffet and a cash bar.

The Republican Town Committees of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Naugatuck, Oxford, Seymour, and Shelton joined together in recent years to form the Valley GOP.

The mission is to bring attention to Naugatuck Valley issues and concerns and the need for elected leaders to address jobs, economic development, brownfields cleanup and redevelopment, and the like. 

Naugatuck RTC Chairwoman Dorothy Hoff said, “While last year’s event featured candidates for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House and provided them with a venue to get across their campaign messages, this year we are focusing on providing Valley Republicans with some motivation, inspiration, and some good old-fashioned fun.”

Father and son emcees will be former state Reps. Len Greene Sr. and Len Greene Jr.

For the third year, the Valley GOP is celebrating revitalization. Re-instituting an initiative by Valley GOP Chairs inaugurated almost 20 years ago - when Len Greene Sr. was the Beacon Falls Republican Town Committee chairman - the Valley GOP chairs are once again providing an event for Valley Republicans.

Guest speaker will be Kevin DelGobbo of Naugatuck, former Burgess, state representative and more.  He was chosen not only because he is from the Valley and understands the community's concerns, but also because he continues to live a life of public and community service and encourages others to do so as well.

The event will feature former state party chairman Chris DePino offering musical motivation. Many will remember his blues harmonica playing at state GOP conventions.

Tickets are $30 and are available through each Town Committee: Ansonia, Pat Henri, 203-734-1851;  Beacon Falls, Ron Holzman, 203-906-5254; Derby, Tony Szewczyk, 203-734-0486; Naugatuck, Dorothy Hoff, 203-723-4348; Oxford, David Stocker, 203-881-1844; Seymour, Bill Paecht, 203-305-5234; Shelton, Anthony Simonetti, 203-926-9022.

  

This information is taken from a press release.